Method and means for cleaning meat stuffers



March 22 1927. l 1,622,045

` G. R. NAPIER METHODl AND MEANS FOR CLEANING MEAT STUFFERS Filed May 13, 1926 the space.

Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

UNIT EID Si GEORGE' R. NZA'PER, OF GLEVELAND, OHIO.

i METIHODALND.MEANS,EORiCLEANINGr-.MAT STUEEERS.

Applicationnledivay 13,

Thisinvention relates `tothe art of stuiiing meat. In particular itis concerned With nevv and improved'method of and means for cleaning` meat stuti'ers having meat-expelling ,pistons-operatedby compressednair or other methods of` cleaning such space, asv practiced heretofore, so far as I am. aware,t,have been tov removea hanclvhold cover, and scrape out the accumulated meat, or to take the heavy piston from the cylinder. and then scrape out Eachmethod requires considerable time and labor and does,A not permit of thel desired thoroughness oi cleansing- My invention,however, requires lbut little,z it any, additional simple apparatusandcaul be, carried outina few minutes` Without dismantlingtlie stutter or; its parts. lvioreover,l it Cleansesthe saidspacey thoroughlyrr and is; so simple and easy to practice that it may be used' daily, thusnot only insuring perfect, sanitation at all times but alsopreventing spoilage losses and,` permitting the produc-` tion .1 of high grade meat.

In the ligures attached hereto and 'tormfy ing a part of this ,speciiicationinavhich one form otapparatus embodyingfmy invention illustrated-1-` Fig.` l; is a vertical sectional View oi' a stutter and associateth partsl constructed. in accordance 4with my invention Fig. `2A is a side elevation of asimilar stutter associated with a modified form of apparatus; and.

Figs and t areffraginentary views shovvingV stillother modified forms of apparatus with which my invention may be practiced.

In'the figures, the meat stuffer shown comprises a cylinder l closed at one end by a removable cover 2 and at the otherr end by a iXed end 3. One or more tubes t near. cover 2 form outlets. through whichjmeat may be forced from the cylinder l. A piston 132.6. Serial No. 108,734.

5, reciprocable in the cylinder, senves; to iorce themeat cut-throughftubes.4, ivhenair or other compressed gas i's lead; into the chamber or spacco` in.V the cylinder behind the piston andv between piston 5 and, end 3. All, pipe 7 connectedto a source of compressed y gas (not shown), opensinto.- the space 6 to leadthegas,thereinta A three Way valve 8 isshoivn in the pipe 7 with anexhaust opening at 9. I' `desired.,aibent,pipe l0 may be extended fremppe 7 dovvnclosefto, the 'end vvall`3; for a purpose presently toappear.-

lnlFig. l, lfliave shovvrna pipe or hose 11 connected totheexhaust opening 9, ofy valve 81 andy to,` a pump l2, theinletside oi' the pump being connectedto aireservoir 13 for liquid, for example hot/Water, with or, Without cleaning substances therein..

InFig. 21 have shovvna reservoir, 1.4; corresponding to, reservoir 13,` mounted. ona WheelA carriage 15 and carrying-a motor 16, tol drive a pump-,17 With which a hosey'lS similar to hose llmay becoupled..

In Fig. 8 Ithavesliovvn al Water. main 19 arranged adjacent` to Wall 20 and. having a valve 21' and a, pipe orx hose 22 joining'l the valve tothe exhaust openingkQ of. valve 81,

ln Fig. t I; have showna stutter l, fitted with. a valve 23 Whiclropens-;into the` space behindy the piston. and which, serves as, a meansby which liquidl may bebrought into or dischargedfrom the space 6 behind, the piston.Y 1t Awill be obvious to those skilledin the art vthat connections vvithth-is valve may be made fromeither. of, the typesof; pumps vshown inligs. l,and;2' or fromthewater.

line 19, suclras isshown in Fig, 3. It, will also.,be obvious that morethan onevalve 23 mayx be used; if; desired, for. exampleV one to serve as` aWa'ter inlet. andthe other, to, serve as a. Wateroutlet; trom the space 6. fnvalve 2 5 is provided toperrnitr the escapeof` air from the; space Giand to insurecleaningcontactoffthe cleaning liquidwvith ,the lower, sur- Atace of thel piston when the cleaning acfcomplishech, Without the; introduction, of

compressed, gas through the:` liquid inthe space.; i

Vheniit is desired toremove meatre tuse and the llilreitrom space, 6 and to cleanse, sterilize andrinse the4 space or chamber, thev cover 2 is preferablyI clampedgin placeand tubes 4 closed. Pipes 1l, 18 orA 22 arevconnected=to the eXhaustoutlet of valvefS-or to valve 23, and cleaningliquidjis delivered into space 6, enough. force beingl usedy for this purpose to overcome any back pressure caused by air in the space, and preferably enough additional force is used to move the piston toward cover 3. Then the valve 8 is turned to admit compressed gas into space 6, as much being admitted as may be desired, for example up to lbs. pressure per square inch or until iston 5 is moved close tocover 2, or both. uch gas will pass up through the liquid in bubbles and will thoroughly agitate the liquid thereby stirring up meat lodged in corners of the chamber and causing it to be suspended in the liquid and bringing the liquid into cleaning contact with the lower surface ofthe piston. Vhcn there is suliicient pressure on the liquid, the pipe 13, 18 or 22 is detached, preferably from pumps 12, 17, or valve 21, as the case may be, the end being placed in or over a suitable receptacle to receive the expelled liquid, and then valve 8 is turned to connect space G with outlet opening 9, whereupon the liquid and meat in the space will be forcibly discharged through pipe 13 or 18. With the arrangement of Fig. 1, pipe 11 need not be disconnected but by opening valve l2-l an outlet for. the liquid will be provided. Y

More than one method of practicing my invention may be carried out by the apparatus of F ig. 4L.V For example, cleaning liquid may be brought into the space 6 through pipe 7 and discharged through valve 23 or pipe 7 as desired. The cleaning liquid may also be brought into and discharged from the space 6 through valve 23. Compressed gas may be used regardless of the particular method of bringing liquid into space 6 of F ig. l and discharging itl therefrom. Moreover, the use of compressed gas is not essential with this particular modification of apparatus. The valve 25, if opened during the entry of liuid into the space 6, will permit escape of air or gas therefrom and insure substantially complete filling of the space with liquid, so that the liquid will come into cleaning contact with the lower surface of the piston and not be separated therefrom by a substantially insulating layer of compressed gas, as would otherwise be the case. When the valve 25 is used in this manner it may be closed when the space 6 is completely filled to permit the cleaning fluid to remain in contact with the walls of space 6, but when it is desired to withdraw the liquid from space 6 the valve 25 is opened, the liquid escaping through valve 23.

When curved extension 12 is used, nearly or practically all the liquid may be exhausted from the space 6. If any cannot 'be so removed and it be desirable to remove it, a suitable plugged drain hole 26 may be utilized.

I have found that the walls of space 6 may be rendered substantially dry and more or less thoroughly protected lfrom rusting if,

after the cleaning and rinsing fluids have been withdrawn from the space, compressed gas is admitted to the space and then eX- hausted therefrom one or more times. Such gas has the effectof blowing out or carrying out with` it the remaining traces of moist-ure and liquid.

Various other means of introducing liquid into the space behind the stuifer and removing it therefrom may be utilized when desired without departing` from the spirit of my invention.

It will be observed that I have provided a simple, effective method of thoroughly cleaning stufiing machines to replace the slow, costly, ineffective method practiced for many years heretofore. It will also be observed that I employ little apparatus additional to the stuifer and its parts, but that I utilize part-s of the stuffer in a new manner.

Many changes in the apparatus described above may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is defined in what is claimed.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with a meat stuer having a reciprocable meat-expelling piston, of pressure means for introducing cleaning liquid into the stuEer behind the piston and pressure means for removing the said liquid and foreign material forcibly therefrom.

2. rIhe combination of a meat stuffer having a reciprocable pisto-n and a space therebehind, of valve means for controllably admitting cleaning liquid into said space, and pneumatic means for expelling foreign material and the liquid therefrom.

3. The combination with a meat stufl'er having a reciprocable piston, a space therebehind and pneumatic means admissible to the space for actuating the piston, of a source of cleaning liquid controllably admissible into the said space, and means for utilizing the said pneumatic means in the space to expel the said liquid and foreign material therefron'l.

4. The combination with a meat stutl'er having a piston, a multi-way valve, a space behind the piston controlled bythe said valve, and a source of compressed gas controllably admissible into said space, of a source of cleaning liquid controllably admissible into the said space through the said valve.

5. The combination with a meat stuffer having a piston, a multi-way valve, a space behind the piston controlled by the said valve, and a source of compressed gas controllably admissible into said space, of a source of cleaning liquid controllably admissible into and removable from the said space through the said valve.

6. The combination with a meat stutter .having a piston, a multi-way valve, a space lll!) behind the piston controlled by the said valve, and a source of compressed gas controllably admissible into said space, of a source of cleaning liquid controllably admissible through and removable from the said space through the exhaust opening of the said valve.

7. In a meat stuffer, the combination of a cylinder having a reciprocable meat expelling piston and a space behind the piston, valve means for controlling the passage of cleaning liquid into and out of the said space, and means for exerting liquid expelling force on liquid in the said space to expel the liquid and foreign material therefrom.

8. In a. meat stuffer, the combination of a cylinder having a reciprocable meat expelling piston and a space behind the piston, valve means for controlling the passage of cleaning liquid into and out of the said space, and pressure means for exerting liquid expelling force on liquid in the said space to expel the liquid and foreign material therefrom.

9. In a meat stufer, the combination of a cylinder having a reciprocable meat expelling piston and a space behind the piston, valve means for controlling the passage of cleaning liquid into and out of the said space, and compressed gas means for exerting liquid expelling force on liquid in the said space to expel the liquid and foreign material therefrom.

10. The method of cleaning the space behind the piston of a meat stuffer of the compreed gas type which comprises bringing liquid into contact With meat and other foreign material in such space, agitating the liquid by passing compressed gas therethrough, imposing pressure on the liquid confined in the said space, and expelling the liquid together with the meat and foreign material from the said space.

11. The method of cleaning the space behind the piston of a meat stulfer of the compressed gas type which comprises introducing liquid'into the said space, imposing pressure on the said liquid and expelling the liquid together With meat and foreign materials from the said space.

12. The method of cleaning the space behind the piston of a meat stufer of compressed air type which comprises bringing liquid into such space, and then forcibly expelling the liquid together with meat and foreign materials from the .said space.

13. The method of cleaning the space behind the piston of a meat stuffer of the con pressed air type which comprises bringin,D liquid into such space, then .imposing gas pressure on the liquid in such space, and permitting the compressed gas to expel the liquid and foreign materia-ls from the said space.

14. The method of cleaning the space behind the piston of a meat stuifer of compressed air type Which comprises bringing liquid into such space and into cleaning contact with the lower surface of the piston, and then removingthe liquid together with meat and foreign materials from the said space. -v

15. The combination With a meat stuffer having a reciprocable meat-expelling piston and a space therebehind, of meansfor introducing liquid into the said space, means for bringing the liquid into cleaning contact With substantially all of the Walls of the said space, and means for removing the liquid from the space.

16. The combination With a meat stuifer having a reciprocable meat-expelling piston and a space therebehind, of means including suitable pipes for introducing liquid into the said space and removing it therefrom, and means including a conduit for the conduction of gas for bringing the liquid into cleaning contactwith substantiallv all of the Walls of the said space.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature this 10th day of May, 1926.

GEORGE R. NAPIER. 

